2 Chapter 2

The little girl was sitting comfortably in the carriage looking straight at the carriage ceiling. The carriage had passed the capital gate and was heading on the path between woods. The afternoon sun was behind those big trees leaves in the woods, the sun was not clearly visible but the road had a significant amount of light which make it easy for the coachman to drive the carriage.

As some time had passed the road become wider, and the sun was no longer behind the trees. Edina, who was sitting beside the little girl, enjoying the scenery outside the window, and said, "It feels so refreshing. The air of the forest is the best, right?"

"Yes, it does really feel good," said the count with a smile. The count gazed at the little girl who was still admiring the ceiling since they passed the capital gate. Edina also moved her head to look at her sister who was sitting beside her quietly, and she said.

"Why don't you look outside the window? It's your first time travelling outside the capital, so you should enjoy the scenery. I am sure that you will find many interesting things that will surely amaze you."

"I am fine." The little girl said still having her gaze on the ceiling.

"Is something wrong?" Asked the count out of worries for his little daughter.

"This..." Both Edina and count nodded, while the little girl still gazing at the ceiling. "Carriage is not alive. But why carriages are not alive, but many other things are." The little girl answered in a depressive voice.

"W-what? Things are not alive. Ugh."

The count stated firmly at the little girl. Her eyes fall on the count. And she felt the need to take her words back but it was already too late. Her troubled face makes no sound, neither said anything. When the count looked at her, he sighed heavily and said in a more calming voice.

"Look things are -"

The moment the count began to say something, his voice was over voiced by someone's begging of help. But surely it was only the little girl who was the one who listened to the voice which was begging in a terrible hasty voice like it's death was very close to him.

"H-help, S-somebody please, no, nooo."

The little girl ignored the count and began her search for the source of the voice. She takes her head out of the window to look.

"W-what are you doing?" The count asked, he can't able to understand why she acted like this, ignoring his words and avoiding him and looking somewhere else, he wasn't able to grasp the reason. Knowing that he was the one who wanted the little girl to look outside and enjoy her journey, but not at this moment when he was about to tell her to stop living in her imagination.

But without the care of what others would think of her, because of her ignorance. The little girl looked at the source of the voice, her eyes widen, her face becomes pale as she looked at the reason for it's begging for help. There was a little black-grey stone in the middle of the road.

The stone had white sclera and grey pupil in both of his eyes. His nose was able to be seen as sharp edges which were ending just above his mouth. Inside of his mouth was full dark black were able to see as he constantly begging for help. It was still a little far away from the carriage but if nothing would be done soon, then the little stone will be crashed with the right side of the front wheel of the carriage she was sitting in.

The roadside was filled with many big and small stones and rocks, as well as some white and yellow flowers. All of them also had eyes and mouth, like someone had drawn a face like a figure on each of them. All of them were mourning and, concerns and worries were very well written on there faces.

"H-help, p-p-please, help."

"S-stop," said the little girl.

There was no more time, she has to do something, if not then the little stone will be break into two or more.

"What?" The count asked.

"Stop this carriage. Now."

"W-wh.."

"STOP"

The coachman pulled the horses to stop the carriage as he listened to the scream of the little girl. But it was too late as the wheel had already driven over the little stone and broke it into two more small stones. The count and Edina, both of them eyes were wide open, as they were still in shock because of the little girl actions.

The three carriages which were following behind the little girl's carriage also stopped suddenly at her scream, and the knights who were there to guard the count and his family made there stop as well with the small sound of 'Ah'.

The little girl looked down from the carriage window and found the stone broken in two. The little girl eyes corner filled with tears, as she was in mourning for the little stone. She takes her head inside the carriage, where count and Edina were staring at the little girl. When she noticed them, she opened her mouth to say something but stopped herself, as she heard someone giggling.

The little girl looked out of the window again and once again she became shocked when she found the source of the voice. The little stone which now becomes two more little stone was giggling and smiling.

"Who are you?" Asked one of the two little stone to another and giggled.

"I don't know. Who are you?"

Another one replied and asked the same question and also giggled and laughed.

"I also don't know." The first one replied, and then both of them were laughing happily.

'What is going on?' The little girl scanned at the roadside to take a good look, and to her surprise, she found all of them smiling. 'They all were sad just a few moments ago. But now, why all of them are happy like nothing had happened? Why?'

The little girl was confused, she frowned and said to herself, 'Did they forget about the little stone that was pleading for help just now, or they just don't care at all?'

"Don't you worry, child."

"....."

An unfamiliar voice echoed into the air, it was harsh as well as sweet at the same time, like an old lady's voice. The little girl scanned her eyes around to only find a white flower which somewhat seemed dull among the bunch of white flowers. All those flowers has a face drawn on them and they all were looking at those two little stones but the only one who eyes meeting the little girl eyes was that dull looking flower.

"It is not something new, it happens a lot. It is surely sad that the stone wasn't able to be saved, but still, I would like to thank you for trying to save the stone... But why does it seem like you have many other questions in your head and you are not frowning because you weren't able to save the stone? Hmm?"

"....."

The little girl eyes widened, she was shocked not on the question that was just asked to her, but rather on the answer. It was true, she totally herself forget, that if she was quick in taking action and asked to stop the carriage a little earlier then the stone won't break down. But rather feeling sorrow because of herself, she was angry on others who were enjoying themselves and accepting the truth that the little stone is no longer among them.

"Well then, for thanking you I shall answer your questions..."

"....."

The dull flower began to speak like she already knows the little girl question and as well as answers.

"I have seen it many times and the same goes for many of others here also. That's why we accept it without hard feelings that the stone is no longer among us... And also, won't it will be unfair to the new ones if we welcome them with sorrow face?"

"....."

"Well, as the saying goes 'if new are coming, the old has to go'. And isn't it's the destiny of stones to die so new ones can come."

The dull flower smiled gently.

'But why it has to be like that? Why should one die so the new ones can come and how can you accept it? Is it too easy for things to accept it? And if it is then why humans also not accept it easily? Why it is not the same?' She clenched her teeth, as she swallowed the question she wanted to ask to the dull flower.

The count who was looking at his daughter, who was seeing something outside attentively, placed his hand on her shoulder to get her attention.

The little girl also snapped out of her thoughts and looked at the count and Edina, who was worried about her. The count didn't ask as he thought that it would be best and told the coachman to drive again. The count looked at the little girl to ensure that 'If It is okay or not?', and on which the little girl also didn't say anything and just give a nod.

The carriage wheels start rolling on the road as the horses once again start taking steps one by one. Before the carriage would move further away from that place, the little girl takes a peek on the dull flower. The dull flower smile becomes more tender as she held the look of pitying someone and she said.

"It is not the fault of new ones." She answered once again like she had read the mind of the little girl. The little girl clenched her teeth and a whisper came out.

"Liars."

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